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Perennial of the Rosaceae family, originating from the mountainous regions of Eastern Europe and the Caucasus, Alchemilla mollis is the most commonly cultivated lady's mantle in temperate gardens, where it has also become widely naturalized.
Its very name evokes alchemy: in the Middle Ages, alchemists carefully collected the pure water droplets that accumulate and roll on its leaves, held by their fine hydrophobic hairs, considering them as celestial dew endowed with special virtues, useful for the transmutation of metals and the preparation of the elixir of long life. This water, known as « lady's mantle water », was reputed to be the purest of all.
It forms generous clumps of 30-45 cm, with large kidney-shaped, lobed and softly toothed leaves, of a tender and velvety green, which retain dew or rain droplets in small shiny spheres — one of the most immediately captivating visual effects of the genus, and an invitation to look closely. From June to August, it produces abundant clouds of tiny yellow-green flowers in loose and airy corymbs, which blend with almost all plant associations.
Very accommodating, it grows in sun as well as in partial shade, in ordinary, fresh to well-drained soils. It self-seeds abundantly and can become invasive if allowed to go to seed; mowing after flowering induces fresh regrowth of the foliage. Border, edge or light woodland plant, it is also highly appreciated in cut bouquets for its light flowers.